The phenomenon of mixed martial arts has steadily become more popular over the past fifteen years, and while it is undeniably an effective style of combat it is however a misnomer. Mixed martial art does not qualify as martial art, because although it is martial, it is not art.
The Ideology of Tao or Do
This statement of course begets the question, what is art? Rather than get mired in an argument involving the Right, Left, and NEA, it’s more appropriate in this case to ask, what is Tao? “Art” is the English translation of Tao, the Chinese word for “the way”, or the Japanese and Korean equivalent, Do. Tao/Do isn’t just a way, it’s the Way. When Buddhist monks from India encountered the Chinese Taoists, the product was Chan or Zen Buddhism, which greatly influenced the ideology of early Asian fighting disciplines. The fusion of Chan spirituality with purposefully derived fighting disciplines produced the original martial arts.
This is not to imply that a true martial art needs to be old, or even Asian. A true martial art does, however, need to incorporate the ideology of Tao/Do, even if the martial artists themselves are unaware the inclusion. The easier way to discern what a martial art is to first point out what isn’t; or rather what looks like martial art, but isn’t. For the purpose of this article, the martial art look-alikes will be identified as combat sports and fighting disciplines.
The Meaning of Combat Sports
Combat sport is where two or more players attempt to defeat each other using codified violence – that is, violence constrained by rules. These rules provide a framework for deciding a victor, fair play, and ultimately protection from serious injury or death. Examples of combat sport include boxing, wrestling, Muy Thai, Olympic style taekwondo sparring, and of course MMA, to name a few. The goal of the combat sport is to win the match, or in other words, to conquer one’s opponent.
Examples of Fighting Disciplines
A fighting discipline is violence not constrained by rules. Examples of fighting disciplines include Krav Maga, non-sport martial art techniques, MMA techniques outside the ring, and hand-to-hand fighting techniques taught to military or paramilitary personnel. The goal of a fighting discipline is to disable or kill – or in other words conquer – one’s opponent.
The true martial art on the other hand can contain both of the above aspects, but must also demonstrate the concept of Tao/Do. This includes developing self-discipline, self-control, and respect for oneself and others. It means having a pleasant attitude, practicing humility, and willfully helping others. It means not just working to improve one’s martial skill, but working to improve one’s martial school, as well as family and community. It means recognizing and working to overcome one’s shortcomings without making excuses. The goal of a martial art is to conquer oneself.
So where non-art focuses on competition, martial art focuses on cooperation. Where non-art uses violence to promote the individual, martial art reserves violence to promote community – by deterring and defending against unjust attack and protecting the weak. Where non-art is an animalistic survival of the fittest, martial art is a humane concern for all.
Mixed martial arts rarely demonstrates itself as anything other than a competition, its competitors often crass and barbaric. MMA may be a thrilling spectacle and an effective set of fighting techniques, but until it learns to incorporate the virtues of Tao/Do, it will still be a misnomer.
